Do I Need Boater Education in My State?
Knowing how a boat operates, communicating with other boaters and responding to emergencies are some of the responsibilities that come with boat ownership.
Many states require completing boater education courses before piloting a boat on state waters. Whether you live in a state that requires boater education or not, if you plan on owning and/or driving a boat, you should take the course. Insurance companies also tend to offer discounts on their policies for possessing a boater’s education card, so why not take a course?
Some states enforce carrying a boater education card with you whenever you operate a boat and will fine you if you don’t have one. With that in mind, here’s a list of states from P-W and whether or not they require boater’s education. States from A-L and states from M-O are covered in separate posts.
NOTE: Laws, regulations and requirements are subject to change. The boater education requirements listed below are current as of this publication (2021). However, you should check your state’s boating laws for updates or amendments.
Boater Education Requirements by State: P thru W
Pennsylvania
Requires all boat operators on state waters born after January 1st, 1982 to complete an approved boater education course.
Rhode Island
Requires all boat operators on state waters born after January 1st, 1986 to complete an approved boater education course.
South Carolina
Does not require boat operators over 16 years of age to complete any boater education courses.
South Dakota
Does not require boat operators to complete any boater education courses.
Tennessee
Requires all boat operators on state waters born after January 1st, 1989 to complete an approved boater education course.
Texas
Requires all boat operators on state waters between 13 and 17 years of age to complete an approved boater education course. Does not require boat operators 18 years of age or older to complete any boater education courses.
Utah
Does not require boat operators to complete any boater education courses.
Vermont
Requires all boat operators on state waters born after January 1st, 1974 to complete an approved boater education course.
Virginia
Requires all boat operators on state waters to complete an approved boater education course.
Washington
Requires all boat operators on state waters to complete an approved boater education course.
Washington DC
Requires all boat operators on state waters to complete an approved boater education course.
West Virginia
Requires all boat operators on state waters born after January 1st, 1987 to complete an approved boater education course.
Wisconsin
Requires all boat operators on state waters born after January 1st, 1989 to complete an approved boater education course.
Wyoming
Does not require boat operators to complete any boater education courses.
Do you need a boating license in your state? Find out here.